Do you know someone that has had or is thinking about having a type of weight loss surgery? It would not surprise me if you did because of the fact that over 100,000 people each year opt in for one of the many methods available by certified surgeons. Many people that aren't able to conform to the regular methods of weight loss by proper diet and exercise turn to other alternative methods such as gastric bypass or the newer, more noninvasive method known as the lap band.

What is involved with these bypass procedures is a very ingenious technique perfected by surgeons that effectively "shrinks" the stomach allowing a person to gain the benefit of becoming full faster stopping their never ending food addiction. In the original gastric bypass surgery the patient is put under general anesthesia and a surgeon will go into the stomach cavity and will bypass a large part of the stomach leaving just a small pouch there to hold the food directly after eating.

The problem with the original surgery performed was that it's very invasive and provides more risks for the patient. To combat the possible risks involved Doctors have come out with a newer, non-invasive weight loss surgery that can be performed through what is known as a "key hole" entry point, such as the belly button for most people. The surgeon will then create a smaller stomach pouch via a rubber band instrument effectively providing the same effects as the other surgery.

Many people are opting for these surgeries and for great reason. As America becomes a nation of obese people, technology and medical advancements are key to assisting with this dire need of a healthier nation. Luckily these new methods can be easily performed by many doctors and some insurance companies will even cover parts of the surgery.